Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Importing Plutonium and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

<p>A convicted felon from Massachusetts has pleaded guilty to illegally importing plutonium from Russia and selling the radioactive material and other hazardous substances to customers in the U.S. and abroad. Jacob D. Miller, 44, also pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material.</p><p>Miller pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, one count of being a felon in possession of explosive materials, one count of importing nuclear material without lawful authority, one count of mailing hazardous materials, and one count of possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.</p><p>Miller was arrested on April 9, 2025, and indicted by a grand jury on April 17. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest.</p><p>He had previously been convicted on February 9, 2004, in Massachusetts state court for possessing child pornography and possessing an explosive device. According to federal prosecutors, Miller received seven years of probation in the child pornography case and, in a separate case involving two counts of possessing an explosive device, was sentenced to 2½ years in jail and 10 years of probation.</p><p>After his release, Miller started a business called Collect The Periodic Table (CTPT) and sold samples of elements such as plutonium and thallium, which are highly radioactive and toxic, respectively. In addition to selling directly through CTPT, Miller used an online third-party retailer, Bonanza, to make sales.</p><p>Miller imported plutonium from Russia and arranged for it to be mailed to him at his Massachusetts residence, prosecutors said. Between December 30, 2020, and March 31, 2025, Miller sold plutonium to approximately 67 customers across the U.S. and abroad. He shipped the plutonium to his customers through a U.S. mail service, despite it being a hazardous substance prohibited from being shipped.</p><p>Between October 12, 2017, and April 5, 2025, Miller used CTPT and Bonanza to sell thallium to about 71 customers, according to prosecutors. He also shipped the thallium to his customers through the U.S. mail, even though thallium was also a hazardous substance that was barred from being mailed.</p><p>During a search of Miller’s residence in April 2025, investigators recovered a box containing bottles of explosive powder, numerous rounds of ammunition, and six firearms. The ammunition, firearms, and explosive materials were unlawfully possessed due to his previous felony convictions, prosecutors said.</p><p>Miller’s laptop and cell phone were also found with child sexual abuse materials, which he had accessed as recently as the day before the search warrant, according to prosecutors.</p><p>His sentencing has been scheduled for January 21.</p>